Routing machine



April 24, 1928. 1,667,394

v. ROYLE ROUTING MACHINE Filed J n-11, 1923 2 Sheets-S1196}: l

IN VEN TOR /e, ATTORNEYS April24,1928. 1,667,394

V. ROYLE ROUTING MACHINE Filed Jan.11, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 PatentedApr. 24, 1928.

. UNITED STATES! VERNON BOYLE, or rA'rnnson; NEW JERSEY."

ROUTING MACHINE. f

Application) fileiiJanuary 11,1923. Serial- No. 612,139.;

.This invention relates to an improvement.

to provide a guide'bar for the cutter arm which is very durable and wearresisting, the wear receiving portion of which may be readily adjustedtosuccessively; present new surfaces to the cutter arm as perceptiblewear eventually takesiplace, and thesaid portion of which may. also bevery easily removed and replaced withqa new portion without thenecessity of disconnectingany substantial parts orreinoving themain bodyportion of the guide bar. ,1

Another object consists in providing a device which serves asa combinedstop and holder for limiting the movement of the cutter arm. away fromthe work and for holding said arm in inoperative but readily accessibleposition. Another object consists in providing certain improvements inthe form, construction and arrangementof the several parts,vwhereby theabove named and other objectsmay be elfectively attained Practicalembodiments of the invention'are shown in the accompanying drawings, inwhich Fig. 1 representsa top plan viewofa portion of a routing machinewith my improvements applied thereto; y to Fig. 2 represents a detailelevation, on ;a large scale, showingmy improvementsand their immediatesupporting,members;

Fig. 3 represents an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 2. H. I

Fig. 4 represents a vertical section taken in the plane ofthe line IVIVof Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows, with the stopandholding deviceremoved.

Fig. 5 represents a similarview taken in the plane of the line VV of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows. v 3 a, i

Fig. 6 represents a front elevation of the stop and holding device,several positions of the cutter time being shown ,in ,ilotted lines. 1a,

Fig. 7 represents an edge view oi the said device. 1.

Fig. '8 represents a perspective view of a modified form of stopandholding device, several positions of the cutter armqbeing shown indotted lines. o i

In view of the factthat the routing machine itself constitutesno part ofthis invent-ion and that the same is applicable to many, if not all,approved forms of said machines, the samewillnot be described in detail,but it willbe noted thatthe machine in general is represented by 1 and,that it hasthe usual cutter arm 2, which is pivoted at 3 and carries acutting tool 4 that is suit! ably driven'i by beltingfj for operationupon the work 6., Thefrontpmition' of the ma chine is providedwith apair of supporting members 7,;that: also act as guides for lifters 8, 9,the upper ends of which are intended to carry the guide'bar which servesas a rest forthe cutter arm 2 as it is swung laterally by the operatorduring the function ng of themachine,:the lifters 8, 9 being commonlyoperable byya treadlev connected therewith by suitable mechanism for thepurpose of elevating the cutting, tool 4: away from:thet workfi.v Thismechanism is all thoroughly understood by those acquainted with this artso that it is not neeessary'here to more fully show or describe thesame. The guide bars which have heretofore comm only lbeen employedhavebeen made of wood, and there has been an objectionable, featureinthat the frictional engagement of the cutter arm, with the guide barcom-. paratively fquickly wears away portions of the. wood sothatit nolonger presents a level surface parallel with the work, and therebybecomes unsuited to the accurate performance of its function aguide barfor the cutter arm vThis has necessitated frequent. removal of the guidebar and replaningof the iamein order to levelofEits operative sureace.;l

As is alsowellknowntheart, the oper- V to have the cutter arm held, insuch out of the way position until he manually brings it back intooperative position. ,To this end, it has been customary to provide thecutter armswith a-coil spring connected tosome part ofthe framing of themachine;.or to any other convenient point, whereby the arn willbeyieldi'ngly held at-toneside ofthe machine and elevated'froin thelevel of the work. When the machine is thus equipped, p

it is necessary for the operator to move the cutter arm manuallybackinto operatlve position and hold it there against tension of thespringwhile the cutting tool is in contact withthe work. Furthermore, if the ispring is not connected at an entirely suitable point or when it becomesstretched or weakened with usage, it is common for the cutter arm toswing back and inconvenience the operator at times when he desires it tobe held clearly away from him and the work.

My invention contemplates improvements overcoming the objectionshereinabove mentioned, as well as others inherent in the previousarrangements employed.

Referring to the guide bar structure, clear ly shown in Figs. 2 to 5inclusive, it will be observed that the lifter 8 has a head 10 securedto 'its upper end by a'pin 11, while the lifter 9 has a hub 12 whichembraces its upper end, and into the top of which the said lifter isriveted, as clearly shown at 13 in Fig. 4. 7

My improved guide bar consists of a main body portion 14, composed ofsuitable metal, which is secured to the head 10 and hub 12 by cap screws15, 16 which fit loosely in apertures 17, 18 formed in the body portion14. This loose fit enables the guide bar to be adjusted to a perfectlevel by screws 19, 20 that are threaded into the head 10 and hub 12respectively and bear against lugs 21, 22 formed at the lower portionof' the body member 1 1.

The upper portion of the body member 14 has a longitudinal slit 23 whichis developed at its upper end into curved form in order to constitute aseat for a rod 24 composed of steel or other suitable wear resistingmetal. The seat is sufficiently deep so that, the rod 24 is slightlymore'than half embedded therein, and a series of screws 25 are arrangedso as to clamp the upper edges of the body port-ion 14 toward each otherand thereby firmly grip the rod 24 in its seat, as clearly shown inFigs. 4 and 5. As the material of the walls of the longitudinal slit 23is relatively thin there is naturally a certain yielding flexibility sothat they may be moved toward and away from each other by the screws 25to accommodate rods of various diameters. The end of the rod 24 has akerf 26, as shown in Fig. 3, and it will be seen that by slightlyloosening the screws 25, the rod may be turned with the aid of a screwdriver so as to present different portions of its surface on the top ofthe guide bar. A further loosening of the screws 25 will permit thecomplete removal of the rod 24 and its replacement by a new one. a

As a result of this construction, the guide bar is composed of wearresisting material, its operative surface member, when worn, may bequickly turned so as to present a perfectly level surface without theremoval of any part or the necessity of any such operation as planing,and its surface member may be bodily removed and replaced by a as to beadapted to partially embrace the cutter arm, as indicated at 29, Fig. 6,and prevent itfrom upward or lateral movement under the influence of theusual spring; while its lower extremityor prong is curved slightlyupwardly in order to form a seat to prevent lateral or downward movementof the cutter arm, represented at 30, Fig. 6, which is not provided withthe customary spring. The device itself, by reason of its location atthe end of the guide bar, con: st-itutes a stop which prevents furtherhorizontal swinging movement of the cutter arm, as shown at 31, Fig. 6,after the latter has come into contact therewith. In the position marked31, the arm is supposed to be resting upon the guide bar and the tool tobe at the level of the work.

The ofisetting of the upper extremity or prong of the device from theplane of the lower extremity or prong, as hereinabove mentioned,facilitates the entrance of the cutter arm into engagement with thedevice,

as indicated in positions 29 and 30, Fig. (3.

r In Fig. 8, I have shown a modified form of the combined stop andholding device. This device, which is represented by 82, is intended tobe secured to the guide bar in the 1 same manner as the preferred form.Its

shape, however, is somewhat different from that of the preferred formand it IS preferably composed of sheet metal. This form is designed tocooperate with the end of the cutter arm in four positions of thelatter; the one marked 33 indicating the position in which the arm maybeheld against upward and lateral movement when it is pro vided with thecustomary spring; the ones marked 34: and 35 indicating the positions inwhich the arm may be held against downward and lateral -movement when itis not provided with the usual spring; and the one marked 36 denotingthe position of the cutter arm when it abuts the device as a stop. Inthe positions 33, 34 and 35,.the arm is held elevated to such an extentthat the cutting tool is above the level of the work, while in theposition marked 36, the arm is supposed to be resting upon the guide barand the tool to be at the level of the work.

It will be understood that various changes may be resorted to in theform, construction and arrangement of the several parts withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention; hence, I (lo-notintend to be limited to the details herein shown and described except asthey are included in the claims.

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In apparatus of the character described, a guide bar having ametallic weal ing surface.throughout its length and neans supportingsaid bar to allow its rotation to present different bearing surfaces forthe support'of a sliding tool arm.

2. In apparatus of the character de scribed, a guide bar having alongitudinal slit therein to form yielding walls, and a wearing surfacesupported throughout its length in said slit between said walls.

3. In. apparatus of the character described, a guide bar having alongitudinal slit therein to form yielding walls, and a' metallicwearing surface supported throughout its length in said slit betweensaid walls.

4-. In apparatus of the character described, a guide bar having alongitudinal slit therein to form yielding walls, a wearing surfacesupported throughout its length in said slit between. said walls, andmeans for removably clamping the wearing surface in the slit.

5. In apparatus of the character described, a guide bar having alongitudinal slit formed therein, the opening of said slit being curvedin cross section, and a substantially round metallic wearing surfacesupported throughout its length in said curved portion of the slit topermit rotation of the said wearing surface.

6. In apparatus of thecharacter de scribed, a guide bar having alongitudinal slit formed therein, the opening of said slit being curved1n. cross section, and a substantially round metallic wearing surfacesupported throughout its length in said curved portion of the slit,whereby said wearing surface may be adjusted in a rotary direction topresent different portions of its surface for contact with the cutterarm of the said apparatus.

7. In apparatus of the character described, a guide bar having a slitformed therein, the opening of said slit being curved in cross section,and a substantially round wearing surface supported throughout itslength in said curved portion of the slit, the end of said wearingsurface being provided with a kerf' for adjusting it in a rotarydirection to present difi'erent portions of its surface for contact withthe cutte arm of the said apparatus.

8. In apparatus of the character dethe cutter arm of the apparatus in aninoperative position with respect to the guide bar.

/ 10. In apparatus of the character described, a guide bar, and a devicemounted on one end of said guide bar for holding the cutter arm of theapparatus in an inoperative position with respect to the guide bar andagainst upward movement.

11. In apparatus of the character described, a guide bar, and a devicemounted on one end of said guide bar for holding the cutter arm of theapparatus in an inoperafive position with respect to the guide bar andagainst downward movement.

12.111 apparatus of the character described, a guide bar, and a devicemounted on one. end of said guide bar for holding the cutter arm of theapparatus in an in operative position and against lateral movement. I

13. In apparatus of the character described, a guide bar, and a devicemounted on one 'end of said guide bar for holding the cutter arm of theapparatus in an inoperative position with respect to the guide bar andagainst upward and downward movement. I i 3 14. In apparatus of thecharacter "described, a guide bar, and'a device mounted on one end ofsaid guide bar for holding the cutter arm of the apparatus in aninposition with respect to the gulde operative bar, and against upward,downward and. lateral movement.

15. In apparatus of the character de scribed, a. guide bar, and a devicemounted on one end of said guide bar for holding the cutter arm of theapparatus in an inoperative position with'respect to the guide bar, saiddevice consisting of a two pronged hook having one prong offset from theplane of the other.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I have signedmy name this fifth day of January, 1923.

VERNON I BOYLE.

